How to import data using Excel. For ABC Focus, Version 3.

The import and export functions are available from the menu.

To access the menu, open a model and get to the map. Then choose the appropriate option from the menu as shown below.

 

Export import menu

 

The export and import options provide an interface between ABC Focus and other packages. On the first tab, Section, the available items that can be imported or exported are shown.

  • These include: Lines, pools, cost objects, drivers, allocations, capital, processes, tasks and or categories. 

import export data

 

Specification button - click this for a description of the import and export formats. This document can be printed.

Tip: The easiest way to see the required structure of an import file is to open an existing model and export the data.

On this page you also choose Import or Export.

 

Note: If you are importing data, there is a recommended order in which the data should be imported. Read the Information button on page 1 where the order is explained:

 

import order

 

Also, the import file should be closed before doing the import. For example, if the import file is in Excel, Excel itself can be open, but the spreadsheet should be closed before processing.

 

 

Example:

This example will demonstrate how to import data for an entire model into ABC Focus. Download the attached zip file, and then unzip it into a new folder on your hard disk.

 

 

Right-click here to get ABC Focus sample import files    File name is: ImportABC.zip     5 kb

 

Before you import data, start a new model. Otherwise the data will be imported into the existing model. Any existing data in the model is not removed. When you import, the imported data is always added to any data already in the model.

 

 

  • Import categories

On first page, choose categories and import.

import categories

 

On page 2, File type, choose the appropriate type of file. We suggest that you usually choose the first one, ASCII text file. For this example, you must choose ASCII text file.

Tip: When you create your own import files, we suggest that you always use the ASCII format. The easiest way to create your own import file is to enter one item manually into ABC Focus, and then export it. You can then use that as an example for other import lines.

 

 

import categories

 

On page 3, File name, you can type in the full path and file name. The Find the import file button is provided for easy navigation to an appropriate location.

For this example, click Find the import file. Change to all files. Locate the file categories.CSV on your hard disk. Then choose Import.

All files

 

The file name to import, categories.CSV, is entered into the box. Nothing has been imported yet.

 

 

To import the file, click on Do the import!

Do the import

 

You will see a message similar to the following:

 

Do the import

 

 

The last page is a review of what was imported, what was not imported and what was refreshed. If any lines were not imported, click on them and read the explanation given. Then fix the import file and repeat the import process.

Review the data imported on the Import review page:

Do the import

 

Two new categories were included in the import file. The refreshed categories means that some categories in the import file already existed in the model. Note: New models always contain some categories.

 

  • Now import the other data files in the order shown below.

NB: Make sure you go to the first page and choose the item you are importing, then go to the other pages and import each in turn.

 

 

  • Import drivers: drivers.csv
  • Import lines: lines.csv
  • Import pools: pools.csv
  • Import cost objects: CostObjects.csv
  • Import allocations: allocations.csv

 

You can now exit the import form. When you open lines, pools, etc on the map, you will see that the model has all the data from your import files.

 

Note: You can import and export data using this module.